Army vet 'about fell over' after winning nearly $300,000 lottery jackpot ahead of Veteran's Day
A 70-year-old U.S. Army vet plans on paying off all of his debts and purchasing a new big-screen television after winning $276,688 off a $1 lottery ticket just before Veteran's Day.
Ernest Dodson, of Greensboro, N.C., purchased the winning Cash 5 ticket last Thursday at Sons of Nie, a local Asian market. On Friday, lottery officials announced he had won the large sum.
“I about fell over,” Dodson, who picked his own numbers, told North Carolina Lottery. “I saw that I got one, two, and then all of the numbers. I couldn’t believe it.”
Dodson traveled to lottery headquarters in Raleigh to receive his winnings.
“I’m tickled to death that I can be debt-free,” Dodson said. “I’m going to pay off my car and my house. I’m also going to get a bigger TV so I can watch my favorite wrestling matches.”
Dodson will certainly have enough to purchase the TV of his dreams; after required state and federal tax withholdings, the veteran took home $195,757.
Cash 5 is drawn every night, and tickets cost only $1. According to the North Carolina Lottery, the money raised by ticket sales funds education expenses in the state.
Ernest Dodson did not immediately respond to Yahoo Lifestyle’s requests for comment.
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